For the first time in over a decade, a different coach has taken the helm of the Southeast boys basketball program. Wayne Hamilton Jr. stepped onto the court in the Spartans' season opener on Nov. 27 at Stephen Decatur Middle School, ready to implement all his hard-earned knowledge. "It was an absolute honor to be in this position," Hamilton expressed. "I've worked long and hard to reach this point, and I'm truly blessed and honored to be associated with a name like L.T. (Thomas)."

Early Season Struggles and Long-Term Vision

In terms of wins and losses, the 0-4 Spartans have faced challenges. However, Hamilton is committed for the long run and believes the team will improve throughout the season. "We have some young talent on the team who need to learn our system and what we aim to achieve," Hamilton said. "Two weeks is a short time, so it's a process we're going through this year."

Thomas' Support and Expectations

Thomas had hoped Hamilton would succeed him at Southeast. "I value loyalty, and Wayne has been with me for 12 years," Thomas stated. "If I can't support him fully for the position of head basketball coach at this school, where he has worked just as hard as me, it's a no-brainer."

Coach Turner's Endorsement

Lanphier coach Blake Turner, who worked with Hamilton as assistants under Chuck Shanklin, believes Southeast made a great hire. "They're experiencing some growing pains early on, but he's doing the right thing by playing young guys who can buy into his system and contribute," Turner said. "I know him well. He doesn't complain; he just focuses on film and work. In our conversations, that's what he's been doing, and I'm confident he'll continue to do so and get the program where it needs to be."

Hamilton's Teaching and Coaching Skills

Hamilton is a social studies teacher at Jefferson Middle School, which he believes will benefit him. "He teaches well and loves the game. He's very positive and charts in every aspect. He's competitive, smart, and has all the intangibles for success in coaching, not just basketball," Thomas said. Turner added, "PJ is a laid-back, no-nonsense guy. He's quiet but not weak. As a teacher, he's invested in kids, teaching them basketball, offense, and defense. Once a class of kids learns his terminology and system, he'll be great. He's patient and has many traits I wish I had."

Tournament Performances and Areas for Improvement

Southeast opened the Decatur Turkey Tournament with a 67-37 loss to Decatur MacArthur and then lost 69-33 to Sacred Heart-Griffin. In the seventh-place game, they fell to O'Fallon 71-39. After a break, they lost 52-31 to Rochester in the CS8-opening Showcase at the Bank of Springfield Center. "There are many things we can correct. We just need to put in the effort, review the film, and get back to work," Hamilton said.

Help from Recent Alumni

Two recent Southeast alumni are assisting Hamilton on the bench: 2019 graduate Anthony Fairlee, the Large School Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2018, and 2017 graduate Trevyon Williams. Despite their youth, Hamilton praised their maturity and their value to the program. "I don't view these guys as kids. I hired them because I saw their hunger and passion for our school and team. I've been pleasantly surprised by their maturity. Anthony is a great father, and these guys will continue to mature and learn to be good coaches," Hamilton said.

Biggest Takeaway from the Start

When asked about his biggest takeaway from the start of the season, Hamilton simply said, "We've just got to get better."Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.